Executive Director, State Government Affairs

Stoke Therapeutics•Bedford, MA

11h•$278,000 - $322,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK), is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body’s potential with RNA medicine. Using Stoke’s proprietary TANGO (Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output) approach, Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively restore naturally-occurring protein levels. Stoke’s first medicine in development, zorevunersen, has demonstrated the potential for disease modification in patients with Dravet syndrome and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study. Stoke’s initial focus are diseases of the central nervous system and the eye that are caused by a loss of ~50% of normal protein levels (haploinsufficiency). Proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting broad potential for Stoke’s proprietary approach. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public policy, public health, law, political science, business, health administration, or a related field preferred.
12+ years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs, public policy, lobbying, healthcare policy, patient advocacy policy, or related roles, with significant state government affairs experience.
Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, rare disease, pediatric specialty care, neurology, genetic medicine, RNA therapeutics, or advanced therapy experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success developing and executing multistate legislative, regulatory, and lobbying strategies in complex healthcare environments.
Deep knowledge of state Medicaid and managed care, commercial insurance, pediatric coverage, EPSDT, prior authorization, utilization management, genetic testing, rare disease access, and coverage considerations for innovative therapies.
Direct experience partnering with Market Access stakeholders with state Medicaid agencies and analyzing state implementation of federal healthcare policy changes affecting eligibility, financing, coverage, and administrative requirements.
Established relationships with state policymakers, government affairs professionals, patient advocacy organizations, trade associations, and external consultants.
Proven ability to develop pragmatic policy solutions, influence legislative, executive, and regulatory outcomes, and manage budgets, consultants, political programs, coalitions, and cross-functional initiatives.
Strong knowledge of lobbying, campaign finance, ethics, and corporate compliance requirements.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to brief executives, testify before public bodies, and translate complex scientific, clinical, policy, and access issues for diverse stakeholders.
Sound judgment, integrity, discretion, empathy, and resilience in a fast-paced, mission-driven, highly matrixed biotechnology environment.
Willingness and ability to travel up to 40%, including regular travel to priority state capitols, stakeholder meetings, and Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive state government affairs strategy and priority-state plans aligned with Stoke’s patient advocacy, policy, commercial, medical, regulatory, market access, compliance, and communications objectives.
Monitor, analyze, and influence state legislative, executive, regulatory, and political developments affecting rare disease, Dravet syndrome, genetic testing, pediatric neurology, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and access to innovative therapies; provide timely, actionable guidance on risks and opportunities.
Advance policy readiness for potential future access to zorevunersen, if approved, including coverage pathways, medical and pharmacy benefit considerations, utilization management, site of care, continuity of coverage, and recognition of disease-modifying value.
Shape Medicaid and pediatric rare disease policy, including prior authorization, medical necessity criteria, EPSDT, managed care practices, financing, value assessment, coverage continuity, and state implementation of federal healthcare changes such as H.R.
Promote policies that reduce barriers to diagnosis and care by expanding genetic screening, testing and access to genetic counselors.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with governors’ offices, state legislators, public health officials, patient organizations, rare disease coalitions, trade associations, and other key stakeholders; serve as a senior Stoke representative in external forums.
Design and execute lobbying and advocacy campaigns in targeted states, including direct engagement, testimony, comment letters, policy briefs, site visits, legislative briefings, stakeholder roundtables, and coalition activation.
Partner with Patient Advocacy leadership to ensure policy engagement incorporates patient and caregiver perspectives and reinforces patient organization legislative advocacy efforts.
Manage external consultants, lobbyists, coalition partners, budgets, reporting, dashboards, and performance metrics to ensure alignment, compliance, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
Coordinate with federal government affairs as needed, including engagement with Members of Congress, executive branch officials, and federal agencies, while overseeing applicable political engagement and compliance with lobbying, ethics, gift, and campaign finance requirements.